LDH Office of Behavioral Health introduces Louisiana Crisis Response System services

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH)’s Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) is expanding services to Louisiana Medicaid members experiencing a mental health crisis with the phased implementation of a comprehensive crisis system of care, a critical goal identified in LDH’s Fiscal Year 2022 Business Plan. These services are directly correlated to LDH’s DOJ Agreement, and are critical to LDH’s compliance with the Agreement.

Mobile Crisis Response, Community Brief Crisis Support and Behavioral Health Crisis Care are the first three of four Medicaid services affiliated with the Louisiana Crisis Response System (LA-CRS), a modern, innovative and coordinated approach to crisis services that builds upon the unique and varied strengths, resources and needs of Louisiana’s local communities. The fourth service, Crisis Stabilization, will be phased in at a later date pending legislative funding.

Individuals experiencing a psychiatric crisis can access services until the crisis is resolved and/or the person returns to existing services or is linked to other behavioral health supports as needed. OBH will expand services to every region during a phased-in rollout.

“Experiencing a mental health crisis can be frightening and confusing, especially when the individual feels that they have no control over their own treatment. We know that safety and trust are critical to successfully navigating such a crisis. With the introduction of the Louisiana Crisis Response System, Louisianans enrolled in Medicaid will have access to a continuum of rapid, coordinated services delivered in a way that best allows them to remain in their communities,” said LDH Secretary Dr. Courtney N. Phillips.

“Louisiana has the opportunity to fully develop its crisis response network. When we started this initiative, no communities had access to the full continuum of services envisioned by LDH,” said Assistant Secretary Karen Stubbs, Office of Behavioral Health. “However, some providers and communities demonstrated readiness to expand crisis response services through existing niche programming with robust collaboration and buy-in from crucial partners such as law enforcement, hospital systems and local resource centers.”

LA-CRS services

Through the implementation of the Louisiana Crisis Response System, individuals ages 21 and older who are served by one of the five Medicaid Healthy Louisiana plans and experiencing emotional distress will have access to a continuum of voluntary crisis services that are built on principles of recovery and which aim to divert from unnecessary hospitalizations and institutional levels of care.

Services offered by the Louisiana Crisis Response System include:

• Mobile Crisis Response: A service that is available as an initial intervention for individuals in a self-identified crisis, in which teams deploy to where the individual is located in the community
• Community Brief Crisis Support: A face-to-face ongoing crisis intervention response, designed to provide stabilization and support in the community subsequent to the initial intervention
• Behavioral Health Crisis Care: A facility-based walk-in center providing short-term behavioral health crisis intervention, offering a community based voluntary home-like alternative to more restrictive settings
• Crisis Stabilization: Short-term, bed-based crisis treatment and support service for individuals who have received a lower level of crisis service and are at risk of hospitalization or institutionalization, including nursing home placement (funding requested for State Fiscal Year 2023)

“You never know when a mental health crisis may affect you or someone you love. However, one thing is clear: You want quality services quickly. The Louisiana Crisis Response System provides a spectrum of services designed to meet individuals where they are in their communities, providing stabilization and linkage to resources to help them on their path to recovery,” said Rep. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans.

Services available in South-Central Louisiana (Region 3): Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes provided by Start Corporation are as follows: